ABC issues news releases on the latest workforce, policy and industry issues, as well as construction-related economic data and trends. Commercial and industrial construction economic analyses include federal data on construction spending, employment, GDP and the Producer Price Index. Please note, ABC's news releases on state construction unemployment have been temporarily paused.

In addition, ABC produces the Construction Backlog Indicator, the only economic indicator that reflects the amount of work that will be performed by commercial and industrial construction contractors in the months ahead, and the Construction Confidence Index, a diffusion index that signals construction contractors’ expectations for sales, profit margins and staffing levels. Methodology for both indicators can be found here. ABC construction economic releases are published according to this schedule.

From the category archives: Construction Backlog Indicator

ABC reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) expanded for the second consecutive quarter, up to 8 months in the third quarter of this year, a 3.5 percent increase from the previous quarter. CBI is measured in months and reflects the amount of construction work under contract, but not yet completed.Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today reports its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) rose 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2012 after declining the two previous quarters. Despite the quarterly expansion, CBI is 0.3 months, or 4.2 percent below the second quarter of 2011. CBI is a forward-looking economic indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future.Read the rest of entry »

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) for the first quarter of 2012. CBI declined 5.4 percent from the previous quarter, dipping from 7.8 months to 7.4 months, but is slightly higher compared to the first quarter of 2011. CBI is a forward-looking economic indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future. Read the rest of entry »

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. CBI declined 3.2 percent from the previous quarter from 8.1 months to 7.8 months, but is still up 10.9 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. CBI is a forward-looking economic indicator that measures the amount of nonresidential construction work under contract to be completed in the future. Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) for the third quarter of 2011. At 8.1 months, the third quarter CBI remained unchanged from the previous quarter, but was up 16.3 percent from a year ago. CBI is a forward-looking economic indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future.Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) increased 10 percent in the second quarter of 2011 to an average of 8.1 months, up from 7.3 months the previous quarter. The CBI is 12 percent higher than one year ago. CBI is a forward-looking indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future.Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) for the first quarter of 2011 averaged 7.3 months, a 4 percent increase from 7.1 months during the fourth quarter of 2010, and up from 6.1 months, or an increase of 21 percent, from one year ago. CBI is a forward-looking indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future.Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) for the fourth quarter of 2010 averaged 7.1 months, up from 7 months in the third quarter of last year – an improvement of 1.4 percent. In addition, CBI is up 21.3 percent from a low of 5.8 months in the fourth quarter of 2009. CBI is a forward-looking indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future.Read the rest of entry »